Saturday, November 19, 2011

La Tech 24, Nevada 20 (final)

With a win over Louisiana Tech today at Mackay Stadium, Nevada (6-3, 4-0) would have clinched a share of the WAC title.

FOURTH QUARTER

Nevada went up 20-3 when Stefphon Jefferson scored from 4 yards out – his fifth rushing touchdown of the season.
Tech answered with an 84-scoring drive fueled by Patton, who had a 38-yard reception on the drive and then caught an 8-yard touchdown to pull his team within 20-10.
After a Pack three-and-out, Tech struck with another quick touchdown, going 89 yards in 1 minute, 43 seconds.
Cameron connected with Myles White on a 14-yard touchdown to make it 20-17 Nevada.
The Bulldogs capped the epic rally with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Cameron to Taulib Ikharo with 51 seconds remaining.
Nevada couldn’t mount a late score, letting a 17-point fourth-quarter lead and a share of the WAC title slip away.

THIRD QUARTER

The Wolf Pack opened the second half with the ball and methodically drove down the field before settling for a field goal
Lampford Mark picked up a big first down on fourth-and-2 from the Tech 33.
But Nevada stalled inside the 10 and Jake Hurst punched in a 19-yard field goal (the first of his career) for a 10-0 lead.
Tech got the board on its next possession after a 38-yard pass from Colby Cameron to Quinton Patton set up a 29-yard field goal by Matt Nelson
The Wolf Pack answered with a 24-yard field goal by Hurst to take a 13-3 lead into the final quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Tech was forced to punt for its third straight possession to open the game.
Nevada drove into Tech territory on the ensuing possession and Fajardo broke loose for a big run, but fumbled over to the Bulldogs on the play.
Another Pack drive was cut short when Jay Dudley intercepted Fajardo on a well-thrown ball that was bobbled by Kolby Arendse
On Nevada’s final possession of the half, the Pack drove to the Tech 33-yard line but stalled on a fourth-down play. Nevada out-gained Tech, 272-43, in the first half and had a 15-2 edge in first downs.

FIRST QUARTER

The Wolf Pack won the toss and elected to defer.
After forcing two Tech punts, Nevada got on the board first. Cody Fajardo hit Shane Anderson on a big third-down conversion and then connected with Rishard Matthews on a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 Wolf Pack lead.
It is Matthews’ sixth touchdown reception of the year.